The Better Boards Podcast Series The role of the Chair in a successful merger | Philip Aiken, Chair at Aveva PLC and Balfour Beatty PLC
Bankers around the globe are getting ready for a wave of corporate takeovers. Covid-19 has changed the position of many private and family-owned businesses and they are forced to exit earlier than expected. Others had to put plans on hold to see how Covid pans out. While it is easy to build the case for mergers and acquisitions on paper, most fail and destroy value for their shareholders.
Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.
I am delighted to speak with one of the most respected Chairmen in the UK - Philip Aiken. Phil is the mastermind behind combining AVEVA and Schneider Electric’s industrial software business. The merger is widely regarded as a success. The story does not end there. This week it was announced that the firm is buying data company Osisoft in a deal expected to boost its market value to more than £10billion making Aveva Britains the most valuable software firm. Aveva plc is listed in London on the FTSE100.
Phil Aiken has just under 50 years of experience in industry and commerce. He is Non-Executive Chairman at Aveva Plc, Chairman of Balfour Beatty plc and the Australian Day Foundation, Non-Executive Director of Newcrest Mining Limited and Director of Gammon China Limited. Previously Phil had numerous high-profile Executive and Board roles in the energy and utility industry in organisations like BHP Billiton, National Grid plc and Macquarie Bank (Europe).
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